Graphite/Steel Shafts for Irons?

[Everardo]

Anyhow, I had graphite before and snapped off a 3 iron. I was told that irons should be made of steel because they are meant to hit the ground. (ducks to avoid another Everardo rebuttal.) I am sure it is crap, but I use steel because it is good and cheap.

LOL!!!

[the_saint_siwa]

Dynamic Gold fan here. Maybe I'll use graphite when I'm getting older, nah, maybe not

[670forged]

I have health issues and will only be 50 next month. My Dr. (who is a scratch golfer) suggested either go to graphite or find another hobby. Looks like graphite for me. i have tried inserts and lighter weight shafts but they haven't helped. I can generally play about 10-12 holes before the pain gets unbearable. I am re-shafting my irons right now and they are standard length with a swingweight of D-3. I installed the grafalloy blue 85 gram shafts (regular,not the pro launch) i used last year so at least i know what to expect. They are pretty close in accuracy to the DG's and i never noticed any extra length to them. Had Aldila NV MLTI's before but did not like them at all. My choice would easily be steel but the game's no fun when you can't play 18. By the way, Just switched fromBlack Gold x-flex to regular flex graphite, how's that for a screwed up body?

[Waku]

Play steel while you can stay healthy.
I´ve always played graphite because I´m in the limit between both, and now I´ve changed to steel due to the new lightweight stocks shafts, because I can´t move those heavy steel shafts.
No comparison : first day made the best result of my life, 2 over par net shots, stiffing shots in the pins.
I remember Scott Verkplank last year, the only player in tour playing graphite. He felt his back better, changed to steel and won inmediatly the Byron Nelson Championship

[DJYoshi]

i was 24 when i learned how to play on my pop's old x-16's. they were graphite.
I bought Mizuno MP60's last year which was my 1st full year of playing golf. I loved the feel of the club. Someone had Project X flighted shafts on their mp60's. I tries them and fell in love with the feeling. The only thing that's weird is how the taper of the butt diameter gets bigger as the club length grows longer.
But the shafts are responsive, they have a great feel and give you a more predictable ball flight. I love them.

[xamilo]

I play graphite. They tend to vibrate a lot less and elbow pain is gone, simple as that...

[Hustle]

Project X 6.5

[Igor]

This is my current dillema now. Currently using NS Pro 95 grams R/stiff. Finding it getting tougher, not so much the weight issue, except coming in from the rought, but more of a flex issue.

Just bought a Callaway FT with regular shaft but the shaft is mid-kick point and find that it is more difficult to use than the MP 60 with steel shaft. Is this true that the kick point makes such a big difference?

[JYB]

i think i'm going to go all AP2 EXCEPT...buy a Callaway FT 2 Iron with a graphite stiff shaft! sick idea, no?!

[xamilo]

The advantage of Graphite, other than the short distance increase, is the decrease in vibration. When you miss shots, the graphite shaft absorbs a little of the miss-hit and is more convenient for your wrists and elbows.

The best thing you can do is try the clubs with the graphite shaft you would want and see if you feel comfortable with. I did so and I decided to keep the graphite because I liked the feel they had. I really find them smoother and softer, but I haven’t even seen a distance increase

[TCCcaddie]

I love the feel and control that i can get from steel shafts. I dont like the weight of the graphite shafts either, i want a little weight to my club so i know its there.

[Brooklyn]

I think somebody mentioned this before but the Project X are a good combo of both... at least i think.

[mikelz]

When did Dynamic shafts go out of style?

[Lange]

Steel shafts all the way, love the connection with the ball much better. Also feel like i can hit them further with a tad more accuracy.

[rehardy]

Ive hit with both but just like the feel of the steel shafts better.

[Gummi Bear]

My Experiment with different shafts -

I'm a tinkerer. I can't leave anything alone, and I like to find things out on my own. This is an experiment that I conducted over the last 3 years or so...

I bought a couple of 600XC clubheads from the local Golfsmith, and a handfull of different mid-pricepoint graphite shafts from Aldila, UST, Grafaloy and a couple of others I can't remember now.

I shafted the iron with one shaft, and went to the driving range several times with each. I should have recorded my findings, but I was going completely off of feel. They all hit the ball, and did a fine job of it, and each had a very unique feel.

So I decided to change it up entirely, and stuck a cheap TT Lite shaft in that head, and got an additional 15 yards out of the same club. (same club, same grip, even the same ferrule, no additional weighting) That is what completely sold me.

My findings:

There is a LOT more feedback on the steel shafts, which is great for some things, but fatiguing for many players. I found that with the graphite shafts that I bought, the torque was noticeable, and the stiffness could be manipulated by trimming the tip (per the manufacturer's instructions; this would also slightly affect the kick point)

A lower kick point shaft will result in higher launch angle, a mid to high kickpoint will keep the ball lower.

In the end:

I could have learned all of this by listening to the local golf pro, and by doing more internet and library research, but where's the fun in all of that?

I wound up buying a new set of Ping G10's last month, with the AWT steel shaft, stiff (1/2 step soft), and I absolutely love them.

[pinbacksc]

Steel fo shooo dawg.

[cwcaesar]

Steel! Graphite seems way too flimsy.